The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-06-16
IS 1T BEST TO FEED MEAL OR
WHOLE GRAIN TO FARM
HORSES.

HORSES.
We have on several occasions been
requested to give, through the col
umns of the Planter, our opinion and
experience on this question, and it has
recently been pressed upon our atten-
ton. Our experience dates back as
long as thirty-fve years, and in all in
tervening time we have e no a
to change our earliest impressions.
That these may fully appear, we are
now able to produce from volume V,
of the Transactions of the Virginia
State Agricultural Society, for the
year 1857, an essay then submitted
but it is proper to state several facts
which were overlooked in the prepara-
ton of this paper. About this time
we commenced a practice which has
been ever since adhered to, Of cutting
down our corn as soon az the grain is
glazed, and whilst the fodder and
shucks on the ears we're still green.
This practice was novel at the time
and was bitterly objected to by every
farmer in our neighborhood, but we
thought we could see plainly that
there would be no injury to the grain,
and that the stalks, blades and shucks
would be vastly better for feeding pur-
poses, and would contribute important
elements to the manure heaps. The
shucks, which were used with wheat
or oat straw as cut-feed, were almost
as soft and grateful to the palate of
the horse as the blades, and In point
of nutrition we're far more valuable
than those gathered in the usual way
after the blades had been pulled and
tops cut from the stalks. Standing
thus stripped for three months exposed
to sun, dews and rains the feeding
value becomes much impaired. The
next fact to be mentioned is, that the
feeding racks were kept moderately
supplied with clover-hay, and in the
absence of this, or as a change, the
corn stalks with blades attached were
broken and placed in the racks.
Being satisfied of the economy in
feeding meal instead of the whole
grain, resting the question on the
money value of the grain, there were
other obvious advantages. The cutting
up and mixing the food make it more
available to quick digestion and appro-
priation to the functions of the animal
body. The secretions of the stomach,
bowels and kidneys are made more
healthful and vigorous, so that all void
ings are more valuable as fertilizers.
Impressed with these ideas we at once
put into the barn a twenty horse sta
tionary steam engine, which efficiently
did the work of threshing, grinding
Smelling, straw and stalk cutting and
saving lumber for the farm. There
was no machinery in all the operations
of the farm to which greater value
was attached; but this was before the
war, when the means of farmers were
much larger than now. Inventors and
manufacturers have not been idle since
peace was restored, and the pres
ent time finds most wonderful
Advancement made in improved
implements and machines for
farm use. Every farmer who
has a working team of three or
four horses, or mules, and mich COW
or two, may at small expense procure
a mill for preparing meal which can
be worked by the power of one horse,
yielding in an hour or two as much
meal as will be required for several
days. We commend the thought to
farmers, feeling sur that they will
never regret the use of chopped feed
and meal for their working and fatten-
ing stock.